The Museum Handbook
Speculative App Design
Overview: The Museum Handbook is a speculative app conceived as a dynamic system that enables museums to offer immersive visitor experiences while providing museum audiences with access to
first-hand information. The project incorporates a range of features that address critical issues—such as repatriation and the curatorial crisis—through innovative and creative approaches.
Course: Archaeology Topics Collecting & Curating:
Anthropology in Museums
Instructor: Alexandra Norwood
Project Duration: JUN 2022
Keywords: UI/UX Design, Interaction Design,
Museum Studies, App Design
Introduction
Through this course, I learned about museum curation processes and key controversies in the field,
including authenticity in exhibition narratives, repatriation, and other ongoing curatorial crises.
I began to wonder how general public might also gain access to these significant topics.
Reflecting on challenges observed through my research and experience, I designed this platform to help museums engage visitors and communicate educational content more effectively. The project uses the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) as a case study to demonstrate the interface design.
